Ag News
Dairy assessment OK'd; GMP names Trotter Executive Director
Posted on Jun 29, 2022 at 0:00 AM
Compiled by Georgia Farm Bureau
In balloting held May 1-30, Georgia dairy farmers voted unanimously to continue the one-cent assessment per hundred pounds of milk to support the Georgia Milk Producers Inc. (GMP). More than 40% of the farmers who received ballots returned them. This assessment is in addition to the checkoff that is part of the Federal Milk Program which allows ten cents per hundred to be sent to the Georgia Milk Commission, which Georgia dairy producers voted to continue in March.
Meanwhile, GMP has named Bryce Trotter its new executive director, succeeding Farrah Newberry, who took a job with The Dairy Alliance earlier this year.
The assessment money allows for operation, education, and promotion conducted by the GMP, as well as supporting dairy farmers in Georgia with education programs like the annual Georgia Dairy Conference held each January in Savannah, GA.
Georgia is 23rd in the nation in total dairy production and last month surpassed Florida in fluid milk production.
Trotter, a native of Gainesville, served as a senior policy advisor in the office of Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black, and was the campaign manager for Black’s successful 2018 reelection as commissioner. He then became campaign manager for Black’s U.S. Senate bid.
As a college student Trotter worked as crop yield project manager for summer silage harvest, cleaned out stalls, and assisted with a variety of daily chores alongside his father at Westbrook Dairy LLC. This on-farm experience is what inspired him to stay in agriculture and work for dairy farm families in his home state.
“I am extremely excited to be joining Georgia Milk Producers and would like to thank the Board of Directors for trusting me with this opportunity,” Trotter said “GMP is a valuable resource not only for Georgia’s dairy community, but the Southeast as well. I know we will be able to continue to grow our industry together.”
Trotter graduated from Davidson College in 2017, with a bachelor’s degree in political science. While at Davidson, he was a leader in a number of student organizations.
He and his wife, Emma were married in January and live in Gainesville.
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